February 2010
Behind the Scenes #11February 22, 2010
Whew! Quite the hectic week this week. And it's going to get crazier before it settles down. We've got quite a lot coming up including a wedding, a girl's activity, possibly a bonfire and we still have one more week of the competition to go. On Wednesday we got a rock stuck in-between the back wheels of our bus (it's one of those buses with four wheels in the back..y'know?) right at the end of the route so we were all standing around Allende at nine-thirty in the evening trying to get the rock un-stuck. Well, Jorge was trying, I was chatting with a guy who drove past who just happened to have a four foot metal bar in his trunk (???) who also spoke English because he had lived in Los Angeles for four years. He works in the health care system down here, his name is Gabriel and he said he'd come to church on Sunday but he didn't. lol. It was fortunate he came along because if he hadn't we'd have been there quite a long time trying to get that rock out.
We're now in third place in the competition, through no fault of our own, however. We've been working really, really hard but Bernardino's route had about 21 visitors on Sunday. It always happens that way. When competitions come the various captains call out all their reserves, people who used to come but haven't in awhile. I've just run out of reserves, that's all. We'll see though. There's still one Sunday left.
There's a group down here from the States at the moment, not sure if I told you all that or not. They're from Montana, Utah and Nevada, as it turns out. Good stuff, Brittany and I have been invited to a bonfire on Thursday evening so we'll see if it works out. Not sure though. I say not sure because the person who invited me invited me just so that I could meet the guys in the group. lol. Not that I'm opposed to that. XD
Classes today, tomorrow and Wednesday, normal week in that aspect. On Saturday Brittany and I are driving to Hermosillo for the wedding of a lady I've never met, that'll be fun. Nice to get away, kinda bad timing though as I'll miss bus route on Sunday morning (not church though). And...that's about it as far as news goes. Kid's club is going well, had a low turnout today but that's just as well because it allows me to get to know the kids better. They're a great group. We ate oranges today because they were super cheap (free actually). I was going to buy some but Brittany gave me the bag she'd bought for treat for Sunday school on Sunday which had the perfect amount of oranges in it. I had some old chili leftover in the Jeep which the kids loved and, voila! Instant snack.
Have a great week everyone! Stay safe, leave a note in the box. I'll catch up with you all on Friday! Take care!
Reality Check #10
February 19, 2010
I wasn't sure what to write about until I got here, here being Caffenio. Then it hit me, music! They were (are) playing this really rocky music. Am I wrong for being here listening to it? To be completely honest, I really like this kind of music. In another life I know I definitely would listen to this sort of stuff. It's my flesh nature, don't get me wrong, I don't listen to this stuff on a normal basis (now it's this really rocky version of 'If I were A Rich Man' lol!!), don't have it on my iPod, don't listen to it in my Jeep, don't own any CDs of it, couldn't tell you any of the 'artists' or anything, it's wrong, it's bad music, end of story.
In day to day life though, we can't help but be subjected to this sort of stuff. The world doesn't think anything about it, it's normal to them. Over time I've learned to sort of tune it out, it's hard a lot of the time though. This is more about discussion here. What do you think about this? Avoid stores where they play it? That's difficult. Force yourself to tune it out? Also hard, but not impossible. The Bible says we're in the world but not a part of the world.
Please comment! I'm interested in learning what you all think. I haven't thought enough about it to have a really good opinion on it.
I've kinda given up on Wednesdays. They're just too crazy with two classes and a bus route. Plus it's just about the only day that I get to do laundry. I'll start posting the country of the week on the sidebar on Mondays for anyone who was interested in it in the first place. I still do it on my own, I just don't have the time to research the country on Wednesdays and still do everything else. Also, falling in the category of best news of the century!!! is the fact that Jon and Annie are going up to the States this Monday and coming back down on Thursday. MAIL!!!
Take care everyone!!
Behind the Scenes #10
February 15, 2010
I didn't call my brother on his birthday. I'm a horrid, horrid big sister. I have a good excuse for not calling but personally, I hate excuses. So anyways, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZACH!! I love you, little bro! I'm calling this morning, alright?
Also would like to wish everyone a belated happy Valentine's Day. We celebrated yesterday with popsicles (in February!), cupcakes and a ton of little red heart shaped suckers. There were about 240 people at church (and we bought 250 popsicles, nevertheless there weren't enough...hmmm..) and a jaw-dropping 71 on the bus. The fitting everyone on the bus worked out alright because teenagers, being their typical can't-stand-anything-to-do-with-authority selves all crowded into the back of the bus (there must have been at least forty people crowded in back there, unloading at church was like watching a clown car) which left the front of the bus for the adults. We had a really great time. They all love singing their lungs out so we did that for about fifteen minutes. I think God really blesses me by allowing me to sing my throat hoarse and still not lose my voice. I'm serious. I've never lost my voice during these singing marathons. Good thing too, they're so much fun. I'd just like to take a minute here to broadly praise my bus team. They are amazing. They're the best team I've ever had the priviledge of working with. I couldn't possibly have asked for a better team.
Children's church was fun, we had about 100 kids, all of which were miraculously very well behaved (we promised the six best kids bubbles). The weather was absolutely gorgeous, all sunny and bright. You all should have been here, really.
That's about it. Not a whole lot has been going on here except for this Valentine's Day stuff. The whole week is kinda slow up until Saturday morning with bus visitation when things just start moving faster and faster until it all culminates with dishes on Sunday afternoon.
So that's that! Take care everyone! If you have a chance, please leave a note in the shoutbox!!
Reality Check #9
February 12, 2010
Let us speak of movies, in particular, movie theaters.
There are so many edges to this area, so many gray areas and black areas and white areas that I know this will never be settled in any pleasing matter. Someone is always going to feel gypped.
The two sides of the argument go as follows. Those that are against going to the theater say that you shouldn't go because no one knows what you are watching while you are in the theater and going to the theater promotes and funds the evil Hollywood industry. (Which is getting worse and worse.) Those that are for going to the theater say that you can obviously watch whatever you want in your house, no one knows what you are watching there either and, regardless of where you watch your movies you're going to be funding Hollywood in the long run.
Personally, I don't go to theaters. My main reason (and this is going to sound pathetic but I'm sticking to it) is because my parents have taught me that doing so is wrong. Well, think for yourself, Liz! You all say. No, I've disappointed my parents in the past and, regardless of them knowing that I am an adult that can make her own choices, really don't want to do it again. So I won't. A lot of my friends have no problems with it, they go and talk about going. Alright, good for you. I can see both sides of the argument and, if you look at it, it all comes down to personal testimony. There are some people I could look at as they walk into a theater and know that they aren't going to watch anything they shouldn't be watching. Then there are other people who I could watch going in and think, "Yep, I know what they're going to see..." So it all depends on testimony. Are you going to go watch Wall-E? Or are you going to go watch Avatar?
As I said, there really is no way to resolve this argument. People are going to do what people are going to do and I'm not going to fight with you. But on the flip side, I'd ask you not to fight with me.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have approximately 80,000 cupcakes to ice before Valentines Day.
Take care everyone! Love y'all!
Note: I realize I completely blew off Country of the Week this Wednesday. My fault. Wednesday was...complicated. XD
Behind the Scenes #9
February 8, 2019
It has been a long and fascinating week here, very full, culminating in today which is special for its very own reason. Got a lot of stuff I have to do today including go to town and run a kid's club up in Miravalle this afternoon which will only help to start what will probably be another long week.
Last Tuesday I got sick and tired of taking cold showers (it does get cold here in the morning and cold showers are no fun, even in Mexico) and so went to town and bought this nozzle thing to force whatever was blocking the hot water out of the tube. It worked. For one day. I had to do it again on Wednesday and then again on Friday which is when Pastor Dorr went up, cut the hot water pipe apart, attached a rubber hose and told me we'd have to haul water into the bathroom if we wanted a hot shower. So far that has been working, it's much more pleasant washing with hot water regardless of the fact that we have to use a bucket. I'm trying to work out a system with a hose and a shower head but for now this is working well. So we'll see.
Sunday we started our competition and, to be honest with you, I've done a terrible thing. I've gotten my kids addicted to Airheads, a candy that you can't buy down here in Mexico (translated, Airheads would be 'Cabezas de Aire' lol). The deal is that if you bring a visitor, you and your visitor will receive an Airhead. Bring two visitors and you still get one airhead but each of your visitors will get an airhead. It's a system that has been working extremely well-we had seven visitors yesterday-but I'm rapidly running out of airheads. I think I have about forty left. So if anyone could find it in their heart to help out these poor kids, could you please send me some Airheads? If you think you could do this and you need the address, it's on the contact page or you can drop me an e-mail and I'll send it to you. My mom also has it. Honestly, it doesn't have to be airheads, any chewy, non-melting candy will do. Airheads are just preferred.
Anyways, about the bus route, we had sixty people on the bus yesterday, putting us in a very firm first place in the competition. We have 93 points, about twelve points ahead of the second place bus. The bus was stuffed but thanks to the fact that we didn't have the Pueblo Nuevo group (a nightmare crowd if there ever was one) everyone was fairly well behaved. You know how it is, five kids act up and by the end of the route you're breaking up fights and throwing kids out windows. Kidding, kidding. But we've broken up our share of fistfights and broken a goodly amount of windows with the Pueblo Nuevo group.
Here's to you people in Maryland, snowed in, hahaha. I'm walking around without a coat, got a nice tan on Saturday actually. Yesterday Brittany, Jenny and I all went to Obregon to go shoe shopping and I got some brown and red shoes (never thought to put those colors together but they're actually really nice) that I think my mother would have never bought for me. Heh. Then I got invited to a wedding for people I have never met which is good because then I'll have a chance to wear these shoes. (They are the most unpractical bus route shoes ever, ever, ever, ever, ever.) This gives me an excuse to go buy red jewelry, something I don't have for whatever reason. So it's all working out.
In honor of this day I left my bed unmade, threw a hoodie on my couch and am wearing orange eyeshadow (in a tasteful manner). Be careful all you Maryland people!!
Take care!
Reality Check #8
February 5, 2010
It's starting to finally really hit me that this is my last little bit of time here in Mexico, for awhile at least. My dad said this would happen. We were driving to the airport the day I left and he told me that I'd start getting really sentimental. I really, really am. I've been that way all week which has made it really hard to just let things go. I'm not sure if that makes sense.
I keep looking at things and people and thinking, I need to do my best right now because this might be the last time I get to do it. But then, shouldn't I be doing my best all the time? General Robert E. Lee lived with the idea that 'if anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well'. I think that's a good thought, a good motto. Not only will we get the job done better, we'll feel better after we're done doing it.
I'm really sad today, I don't know why and I'm not just going to write a post about how sad I feel (I was going to, I really was, but I decided not to, lol!) but this is going to be short as a result.
Do your best, if not for the people around you then for yourself, or, better yet, for Christ. Always.
Take care!
Country of the Week #8 - Mongolia
February 3, 2010
Capital - Ulan Batar
Population - 2,796,800
Language - Khalkha Mongolian
Main Religion - 50% Tibetan Buddhism, 40% No religion, 6% Shamanist, Baha'i, Christian, 4% Muslim
Behind the Scenes #8
February 1, 2010
This is going to be a longish post today. I've decided to introduce you to everyone that I mention occasionally on the blog so that you'll all have a basic idea of who I'm talking about. Also, I noticed some confusion when I said someone had 'moved off the property'. In case you were unaware, the Dorrs have purchased about four acres where we have a church, an orphanage, a small school, my house and a boy's dorm where a bunch of different people live. So when someone 'moves off the property' that means to say that they've decided to live somewhere else. Since we all eat together and work together, we've become something of a large extended family so when someone leaves it's a little bit hard. Hope I've cleared that up for you! Without further ado, here are the names:
Los Americanos
The Dorrs - Pastor and Mrs. Dorr, the missionaries I am here actually working under.
Jon and Annie - Friends of mine who live about an hour from here, starting their own church in Los Camotes. Annie is the Dorr's daughter.
Markie and Christy - The people actually in charge of the orphanage ministry. They do not live on the property. Christy is the Dorr's daughter.
Mike and Jillian - Friends of mine who are actually out on deputation right now. They will be back sometime in May and will be living on the property.
Brittany - Very good friend of mine, lives in the orphanage on the property. In charge of the basic day to day running of the orphanage. I mention her a lot.
Los Mexicanos
Las Muchachas
Claudia - The girl who lives in the house with me, originally from Guaymas. She goes home occasionally, leaving me alone in the house (a.k.a. in peace). No, really, I love her. She's great.
Sugey - Pronounced Soo-hay, she lives in the orphanage with Brittany and is a great person. Good friend of mine, she teaches at the Miravalle kid's club for me. Comes from Baja.
Rosario E. - Also known as 'the normal Rosario', she lives down the street from the church and teaches for our Secundaria.
Rosario O. - The 'crazy Rosario' she has a bus route and lives in Pueblo Viejo.
Xochitl - (Pronounced sew-chee.) A lady who lives in Gabrielle Eva and comes to institute via bus every Monday. Great person, hard worker. I really like her.
Karen - An institute student who comes Monday through Wednesday. She's nice, very friendly.
Jennifer - Relocated from Hermosillo, works in a school here in Navojoa, plays guitar like a genius and probably one of the most talented people in the church. She teaches the Prepa.
Fernanda - Wife of Bernardino, comes from Guaymas, same church as Alan and Claudia. Great cook.
Laura - Lives in the orphanage, sister to Mario.
Los Muchachos
Misael - Hails from Baja and goes to the same church as Sugey which works out because they can travel home together. He's on of my best bus workers and lives on the property.
Israel - Really friendly guy, lives on the property. He goes home to Navojoa every once in awhile, mostly to get his mom to wash his clothes.
Abraham - Former bus worker of mine, comes from Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora, about four hours away. Lives on the property.
Alan - Absolutely the tallest individual I've ever met (he's over 6'5") and comes from the same church as Claudia. Very friendly, kinda touchy feely, newest guy on the property.
Mario - Lives with the guys because he's too old to be in the orphanage. Laura's brother.
Chuy - Comes from a few miles outside Navojoa, greatest guy in the boy's dorm, in my opinion. Hard worker, very friendly, very careful, trustworthy..the list goes on and on.
Uriel - Xochitl's nephew, came to us first because he was being travieso and no one could work with him. He's made an almost complete turnaround since he came to live with us.
Gerardo - Pronounced 'Herr-arr-do', probably the most nondescript individual on the property. He's just...Gerardo.
Bernardino - Married to Fernanda and is kinda an assistant pastor of sorts. Directs choir and leads music on Sundays. They live on the property.
Jorge - Another one of my bus workers, Jorge is technically engaged to Erika, Pastor Zamarron's daughter. He's a great guy, works as a mechanic.
Moises - The first bus worker I was ever in charge of. Very short, very funny. Young.
Ramon - Israel's brother who moved off the property after throwing a fit about rules. We saw it coming though, he is very independent. He still comes to church and works on the bus routes.
I didn't go into who Pastor Zamarron was because I never, ever talk about him. He's a pastor on the other side of town. Funny guy. Other people I didn't mention are the Scotts, missionaries who live close to my bus route and the Helferiches, a family currently working with the Scotts. I hope this list helps and if you're confused about something or want to know more about a specific person, let me know. We all have different backgrounds and the stories are really interesting. Misael, for instance, ran with this really crazy gang called 'the 3 Carloses' before he got saved. Bernardino has worked at pretty much everything under the sun. Claudia's brothers are small-time criminals who go in and out of jail all the time from what I understand.
My ankle is doing much better, my mom said everyone kept asking her and she was a bit upset that I hadn't told her what was going on. lol
Thanks everyone for reading this blog! I really appreciate the comments and the input!!
Take care! Happy February!
